8.1

The Pokemon game has been in the market for over a decade now. And by now, one would think that the game nas nothing more to offer. Everybody expects that the decade has exhausted everything there is about the RPG game Pokemon. But this game proved this contention false and asserted itself once more, thanks to Nintendo and Game Freak. They have devised this game that nobody, but nobody can resist the urge to play. You can blame Pokewalker for that, too!

The latest editions are Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver. They are very similar. The only thing that distinguishes them is the species of Pokemons found in the game. But, in these editions the 3D engine did a very good job. The quests are really fabulous, too. And the best part of it is – yes, you guessed right, the Pokewalker gadget. This gadget bought a new twist and interest in the game experience which has been dissipated over the last 14 years. For those who are new to Pokemon, you might be wondering what the fuss is all about Well, let’s just say that like its predecessors, Pokemon Soul Silver still has that addictive effect on gamers.

As mentioned earlier, the game still follows the time-honored formula of Pokemon RPG – and that’s the quest to be the greatest Pokemon trainer! In this game, all the animals are Pokemon, and you have the capability to catch them all. The Pokemons have peculiar strengths and weaknesses. This is based mainly on what element or type they belong to. Water pokemons are strong against fire; and bugs have the advantage against grass Pokemons. These are the parameters by which you base and form your strategy.

The game play is of the traditional Japanese RPG style that is turn-based with menu selections in every attack you make. this is probably why it’s so entertaining and addictive – it’s due to the sense that you make all the decisions. At the same time, this can also be considered a game flaw or weakness. The traditional style has been played by gamers for over a decade. Thus, it sometimes gets boring. And when the players get past the new 3D engine, the game is basically tediously the same. But let’s face it, even if we are given the same gameplay, and the process is still the same, we still keep coming back for more pokemon games. This game is really timeless. Of course, it is also recognized that the game does need to evolve in order to keep up with the times.

In the SoulSilver Pokemon, this evolution comes in the form of the Pokewalker. The creators of the game have introduced this gadget to give players a way to interact with others even without the Nintendo DS. This is a personal trainer walking that allows you to carry your Pokemon outside the Nintendo DS. Pokemon gets send over; and so does the Player Card from the game, as well as the system clock.

The device is obviously an offshoot of the Pocket Pikachu virtual pet concept. In a nutshell, the Pokewalker is a marvel with new ways to deal with your Pokemon. Also, it shouldn’t be a surprise to find mini games in there, too. Your Pokemon can grow strong in the Pokewalker; but take this word of caution: do not overuse it because a Pokemon can only gain 1 level per walk.

The Pokewalker is very much like the proverbial free prize inside the cereal box. You know how you sometimes just buy the stuff to get the freebie. Well you might feel the same way with the Pokewalker and find yourself buying the game to get the gadget. Fortunately, the game itself contains all the yummy stuff.